Cop Trainees to Use Laser Simulator
DailyAdvance.com, (10/16/2009), Kristin Pitts
The Basic Law Enforcement Training program at North Carolina’s College of The Albemarle has begun using the Laser Shot Firearm Simulator, a training tool that allows students to participate in video scenarios and decide whether to fire their laser weapon. Law enforcement agencies have used similar simulators for many years, but this particular simulator represents some of the latest advances in the technology. It includes more than 200 scenarios, ranging from traffic stops to school shootings, with potential branches depending on how a trainee responds. Playback allows the instructor to rate a student’s performance. The college purchased the equipment through a grant and it will be used primarily during class periods.
www.dailyadvance.com/news/cop-trainees-to-use-laser-simulator-903623.html
TPD to Deploy 2nd Speed-Cam Van Soon
Arizona Daily Star, (10/18/2009), Brian J. Pedersen
The Tucson Police Department will place a second photo radar van into operation later this fall, using it to both spot speeders and conduct a two-year study sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The study will examine eight one-mile segments in Tucson, comparing photo radar enforcement efforts to traditional hand-held radar guns. Through the first eight months of 2009, motor officers issued 17,712 speeding citations, nearly triple the 6,314 that resulted from photo radar. The van can be parked in hard-to-reach locations; however, it can only catch speeders while motor officers can issue citations for a variety of moving violations.
www.azstarnet.com/metro/313719
Taser Advises Police Not to Aim at Chest
The Arizona Republic, (10/21/2009), Robert Anglen
The manufacturer of the Taser stun gun has advised law enforcement officers to avoid shooting suspects in the chest. The advisory issued in October by Taser International cited an "extremely low" risk of "an adverse cardiac event," especially if a subject is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. "Should sudden cardiac arrest occur in a scenario involving a Taser discharge to the chest area, it would place the law enforcement agency, the officer and Taser International in the difficult situation of trying to ascertain what role, if any, the Taser. . . could have played," the bulletin said. Tasers are used in more than 12,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Groups such as Amnesty International have questioned the safety of Tasers and criticized their use.
www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/10/21/20091021taser1021.html
Annapolis Debuts Online Interactive Crime Map
The Baltimore Sun, (10/18/2009), Andrea F. Siegel
The Annapolis (Md.) Police Department has launched a new interactive crime map that provides the date, nature and approximate location of a number of crimes, including assaults (although not sexual assaults), burglaries, homicides, motor vehicle crimes, robberies and thefts. The city ended a contract with crimereports.com; its own site is tailored specifically to this community. Searches can be done by either location or type of crime. Crime types are color coded, and clicking on a colored dot brings up more detailed information. The site is updated daily and ongoing refinements are planned based on user feedback. The site is located at http://annacw.annapolis.gov/crimemapping.
www.baltimoresun.com/business/technology/bal-ar.crimemap18oct18,0,4646553.story
FBI: Police Officer Deaths Fell Sharply in 2008
Associated Press, (10/19/2009), Devlin Barrett
The number of police officers killed in the line of duty fell in 2008, thanks in part to the use of body armor. Recently released FBI statistics show that 41 law enforcement officers were killed in 2008, down from 58 in 2007. That’s the lowest number since 1999, when 42 officers were killed, the FBI said. Kevin Morison, a spokesman for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, said increased use of bullet-resistant body armor has greatly contributed to the drop in fatalities. Suzie Sawyer, executive director of Concerns of Police Survivors, said medical advances and better training have also contributed to the reduction in fatalities.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hnusu4Eyi2uTbLu0y5gqKLCNLyDgD9BEBJ680
Car Thefts Drop to 20-Year Low
Automobile Magazine, (10/20/2009), Steve Diehlman
Vehicle thefts have dropped by 50 percent over the past 20 years, due to stepped up police enforcement and vehicle tracking and disabling devices, according to the FBI. Approximately 315 of every 100,000 vehicles are stolen today, compared with 669 out of 100,000 in 1991. The technology in new cars makes them harder to steal; eighty-six percent of new cars have built-in ignition immobilizers. GPS tracking also helps deter theft. Also, law enforcement agencies have targeted car theft rings, which has helped bring the number of thefts down.
rumors.automobilemag.com/6568798/news/car-thefts-drop-to-20-year-low/index.html
North Carolina Receives Funds for Testing in Postconviction Cases
Office of Justice Programs, (10/22/2009)
North Carolina has received $566,000 in U.S. Department of Justice grants for postconviction DNA testing. The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice (NIJ) will administer the grant. The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission will use the funds to review felony convictions in which the person claims innocence and credible evidence exists that was not presented either during trial or during postconviction proceedings. DNA testing makes it possible to obtain conclusive results in cases in which previous testing had been inconclusive or nonexistent. The grant money will boost the number of postconviction case reviews.
www2.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/north_carolina_receives_funds_for_testing_in_postconviction_cases/28424/#
Secret Service to Revamp Ailing IT Systems
Information Week, (10/21/2009), J. Nicholas Hoover
The U.S. Secret Service will soon commence a major overall of its IT infrastructure after describing its aging network in its budget request to Congress as “vulnerable and at risk.” The agency plans to deploy new storage systems, modernized databases, and expand mobile and wireless capabilities. The Secret Service plans to issue a request for proposals in the next few months and award a contract in March 2010. Improvements include updating its network bandwidth and server structure. The upgrades will support the agency’s 175 field offices and temporary locations worldwide. Future plans included improving interoperability with White House systems and upgrading law enforcement capabilities such as threat management and electronic crimes investigation.
www.informationweek.com/news/government/enterprise-architecture/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220800150
Mesa Gets $2.7 Million to Fight Crime, Terrorism
The Arizona Republic, (10/20/2009), Gary Nelson
Mesa, Ariz., is receiving in $2.7 million in federal grants to help its first responders deal with crime, terrorism and disasters. The city will use the funds for investigation of cold cases involving rape or homicide, including purchase of new DNA lab equipment; purchase of a bomb robot and a vehicle to house the bomb squad’s response equipment; a mobile police communications system; purchase of hand-held police radios for use during large-scale incidents; tools, equipment and training for the police and fire departments’ rapid response teams; and for participation in the Metropolitan Medical Response System, which is designed to handle mass casualties.
www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/10/20/20091020mr-policegrants1021.html
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Army Continues Advancing Soldier Capabilities
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 28, 2009 - Since 2002, Program Executive Office Soldier, better known simply as PEO Soldier, has been the Army's dedicated organization in developing, enhancing and fielding soldier capabilities. PEO Soldier procures and designs the latest technology to improve anything and everything soldiers carry and wear. The organization focuses on making soldiers more adaptable and effective through lightening their loads, while still making them more effective.
"There's a lot of things happening [in PEO Soldier] to make our soldiers the most lethal, survivable and able to operate in any environment," Army Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, who leads that effort, said told military reporters in a roundtable discussion yesterday at the Pentagon.
PEO Soldier's four primary project managers attended the discussion as well, and showcased some of their products, including ody armor plate carriers, machine guns, thermal- and night-vision devices, new camouflage uniforms and a new oxygen delivery system.
Army Col. Doug Tamilio, project manager for soldier weapons, highlighted two new machine guns. The MK48 is now being fielded, and weighs 18.5 pounds. It uses .762-caliber ammunition at an effective range of 800 meters, giving infantry soldiers operating in Afghanistan lighter and more powerful capabilities in high altitudes, he said.
The MK48 "significantly reduces the weight of our currently fielded [M240B machine gun], which comes in at about 27 pounds," Tamilio said. "We gave them this so they could move quicker and lighter at those high elevations." Each Army infantry brigade combat team eventually will get 159 MK48s.
Tamilio also introduced the M240L machine gun, which weighs 22.5 pounds. It has an option to attach a shorter barrel, dropping an additional 2 pounds. The M240L is reliable and durable, and it can fire 100,000 rounds of .762-caliber ammunition before the barrel or bolt needs to be replaced.
"That's incredible endurance for a weapon system," Tamilio said, adding that the M240L has an effective range of 1,800 meters. He's also working to award a contract for a collapsible buttstock to give riflemen more comfort. The M240L is expected to be fielded by July.
Army Col. Will Riggins, warrior project manager,, introduced the portable helicopter oxygen delivery system, which follows the same trend in lightening soldiers' loads.
The system is small enough to attach to aircrew members' equipment vests and replaces the current system, which is about one-third the size of a conference table, Riggins said. It's composed of the oxygen bottle and a regulatory device, and it automatically senses when aircraft reach certain altitudes that require additional oxygen. It also senses the individual's breathing rhythm, he said.
It allows aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to carry more weight, whether that's additional soldiers, ammunition or fuel, Riggins said. "It enables more efficient operations and more efficient use of your oxygen," he said.
Army Col. Bill Cole, project manager for soldier protection and individual equipment, talked about his program's latest developments in body armor vests and uniforms, which was based on concerns from soldiers in Afghanistan, he said.
The improved outer tactical vest, known by soldiers as the IOTV system, originally was fielded in 2007. But slimmer soldiers, particularly small women, Cole said, complained that the vests were too uncomfortable and compromised their protection.
The original IOTV could be adjusted only by fabric-fastener straps to the front, which moved soldiers' side plates toward their torso. But on the new vest, soldiers can adjust the straps forward, backwards, up and down to maximize comfort and protection.
"We took [the vest] back to the unit that raised the issue, and they loved it," he said, adding that the Army recently began production.
Cole also described the multi-camouflage uniform and universal camouflage pattern uniform, two new uniforms Army leadership is considering to make soldiers more adaptable to the terrain in Afghanistan. A decision on the new uniforms has yet to be made.
Army Col. Stephanie Foster, project manager for sensors and lasers, said her department is working to combine thermal weapons sights and helmet attachments with low-light, night-vision capabilities. Both capabilities are fielded, she said, but the next step is to merge the two.
"We're doing all that we can to ensure our soldiers have the visibility for all them to be able to think and engage appropriately," she said.
PEO Soldier officials plan to host a similar media roundtable quarterly to ensure the public and military communities are informed of the latest gear soldiers use as the Army continues its transformation into a more modular force, Fuller said.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 28, 2009 - Since 2002, Program Executive Office Soldier, better known simply as PEO Soldier, has been the Army's dedicated organization in developing, enhancing and fielding soldier capabilities. PEO Soldier procures and designs the latest technology to improve anything and everything soldiers carry and wear. The organization focuses on making soldiers more adaptable and effective through lightening their loads, while still making them more effective.
"There's a lot of things happening [in PEO Soldier] to make our soldiers the most lethal, survivable and able to operate in any environment," Army Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, who leads that effort, said told military reporters in a roundtable discussion yesterday at the Pentagon.
PEO Soldier's four primary project managers attended the discussion as well, and showcased some of their products, including ody armor plate carriers, machine guns, thermal- and night-vision devices, new camouflage uniforms and a new oxygen delivery system.
Army Col. Doug Tamilio, project manager for soldier weapons, highlighted two new machine guns. The MK48 is now being fielded, and weighs 18.5 pounds. It uses .762-caliber ammunition at an effective range of 800 meters, giving infantry soldiers operating in Afghanistan lighter and more powerful capabilities in high altitudes, he said.
The MK48 "significantly reduces the weight of our currently fielded [M240B machine gun], which comes in at about 27 pounds," Tamilio said. "We gave them this so they could move quicker and lighter at those high elevations." Each Army infantry brigade combat team eventually will get 159 MK48s.
Tamilio also introduced the M240L machine gun, which weighs 22.5 pounds. It has an option to attach a shorter barrel, dropping an additional 2 pounds. The M240L is reliable and durable, and it can fire 100,000 rounds of .762-caliber ammunition before the barrel or bolt needs to be replaced.
"That's incredible endurance for a weapon system," Tamilio said, adding that the M240L has an effective range of 1,800 meters. He's also working to award a contract for a collapsible buttstock to give riflemen more comfort. The M240L is expected to be fielded by July.
Army Col. Will Riggins, warrior project manager,, introduced the portable helicopter oxygen delivery system, which follows the same trend in lightening soldiers' loads.
The system is small enough to attach to aircrew members' equipment vests and replaces the current system, which is about one-third the size of a conference table, Riggins said. It's composed of the oxygen bottle and a regulatory device, and it automatically senses when aircraft reach certain altitudes that require additional oxygen. It also senses the individual's breathing rhythm, he said.
It allows aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to carry more weight, whether that's additional soldiers, ammunition or fuel, Riggins said. "It enables more efficient operations and more efficient use of your oxygen," he said.
Army Col. Bill Cole, project manager for soldier protection and individual equipment, talked about his program's latest developments in body armor vests and uniforms, which was based on concerns from soldiers in Afghanistan, he said.
The improved outer tactical vest, known by soldiers as the IOTV system, originally was fielded in 2007. But slimmer soldiers, particularly small women, Cole said, complained that the vests were too uncomfortable and compromised their protection.
The original IOTV could be adjusted only by fabric-fastener straps to the front, which moved soldiers' side plates toward their torso. But on the new vest, soldiers can adjust the straps forward, backwards, up and down to maximize comfort and protection.
"We took [the vest] back to the unit that raised the issue, and they loved it," he said, adding that the Army recently began production.
Cole also described the multi-camouflage uniform and universal camouflage pattern uniform, two new uniforms Army leadership is considering to make soldiers more adaptable to the terrain in Afghanistan. A decision on the new uniforms has yet to be made.
Army Col. Stephanie Foster, project manager for sensors and lasers, said her department is working to combine thermal weapons sights and helmet attachments with low-light, night-vision capabilities. Both capabilities are fielded, she said, but the next step is to merge the two.
"We're doing all that we can to ensure our soldiers have the visibility for all them to be able to think and engage appropriately," she said.
PEO Soldier officials plan to host a similar media roundtable quarterly to ensure the public and military communities are informed of the latest gear soldiers use as the Army continues its transformation into a more modular force, Fuller said.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Meprolight to Launch New Version of Advanced Uncooled Thermal Weapon Sight at Milipol
October 27, 2009. Meprolight, a provider of innovative weapon sights, today announced that it will launch a new version of its NOA uncooled thermal weapon sights (X4 and X7 magnification) at Milipol, the international exhibition of internal state security, to be held in Paris, France, November 17-20, 2009 (booth # 11D034). The new version contains an advanced electronic level indicator, a critical component in balancing the sight for effective long-range shooting. Another new feature is the capability to withstand heavy weapon recoil. The sight’s new version enables bidirectional communications with military devices such as range finders and wireless recording systems.
The new version is designed for snipers who operate under harsh environmental conditions and need to detect and accurately engage targets at long ranges reaching more than 1,000 meters in variable weather conditions and very limited light availability or total darkness. The NOA sights, with their high resolution and digital zoom, detect targets in urban or densely vegetated areas, including camouflaged people or targets behind camouflage nets.
”This announcement further establishes Meprolight as a global leader in thermal sights,” said Golan Kalimi, Meprolight’s Vice President Marketing. “The new version greatly improves sniper performance. We are committed to help our clients around the world meet the most demanding challenges of long-range sniping in any environmental condition.”
NOA’s state-of-the-art sights are equipped with a cutting-edge Fire Control System (FCS), featuring automatic ballistic compensation based on range and type of weapon and ammunition, among others. Additional features include leveling indicator, Laser Range Finder interface for automatic target range acquisition, and the ability to upload and download data.
NOA sights enable wired or wireless transmission of streaming video and real-time video recording, as well as integrated capturing and storage of still images. The NOA sights excel in low energy consumption, allowing up to 10 hours of continuous operation.
About Meprolight
Meprolight designs and manufactures a wide array of electro-optical and optical sights and devices, night vision devices, thermal sights and a wide variety of night sights and other tritium- and LED-illuminated products and accessories for safety and security applications for the law enforcement, military and civilian communities. For more information about Meprolight visit www.meprolight.com.
The new version is designed for snipers who operate under harsh environmental conditions and need to detect and accurately engage targets at long ranges reaching more than 1,000 meters in variable weather conditions and very limited light availability or total darkness. The NOA sights, with their high resolution and digital zoom, detect targets in urban or densely vegetated areas, including camouflaged people or targets behind camouflage nets.
”This announcement further establishes Meprolight as a global leader in thermal sights,” said Golan Kalimi, Meprolight’s Vice President Marketing. “The new version greatly improves sniper performance. We are committed to help our clients around the world meet the most demanding challenges of long-range sniping in any environmental condition.”
NOA’s state-of-the-art sights are equipped with a cutting-edge Fire Control System (FCS), featuring automatic ballistic compensation based on range and type of weapon and ammunition, among others. Additional features include leveling indicator, Laser Range Finder interface for automatic target range acquisition, and the ability to upload and download data.
NOA sights enable wired or wireless transmission of streaming video and real-time video recording, as well as integrated capturing and storage of still images. The NOA sights excel in low energy consumption, allowing up to 10 hours of continuous operation.
About Meprolight
Meprolight designs and manufactures a wide array of electro-optical and optical sights and devices, night vision devices, thermal sights and a wide variety of night sights and other tritium- and LED-illuminated products and accessories for safety and security applications for the law enforcement, military and civilian communities. For more information about Meprolight visit www.meprolight.com.
Friday, October 23, 2009
DHS S&T TO DEMONSTRATE CHEMICAL SENSORS FOR CELL PHONES
On October 27, the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate will demonstrate new technology that would bring chemical sensing capabilities to cellular phones. Three different researchers have produced first generation laboratory prototypes and will demonstrate them at San Diego State University Regional Technology Center.
The program, called Cell-All, is designed to provide greater detection capabilities in areas where people congregate. The concept allows for chemical agent detectors to ultimately be everywhere where there are cellular telephones. At the option of the cell phone owner, the GPS in the phone could provide sensor location information to emergency operation centers. While still years from implementation, researchers are working on the proof of concept before attempting full-scale miniaturization. This demonstration will provide a look at the state of the science to date.
WHO: DHS Science & Technology Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA); NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.; Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, Calif.; Rhevision Technology Inc., San Diego, Calif.; and Seacoast Science, San Diego, Calif.
WHAT: Media availability and multi-manufacturer demonstration of the Cell-All chemical sensor technology.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 2:00 p.m. PST
WHERE:
San Diego State University
Chemical Sciences Laboratory Building, Room 122
Corner of College Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive
San Diego, Calif. 92182
To attend the press availability and demonstration, credentialed media should contact John Verrico, DHS Science & Technology at 202-254-2385, john.verrico@dhs.gov, or Golda Akhgarnia, SDSU Marketing & Communications at 619-594-2585, goldaa@mail.sdsu.edu.
The program, called Cell-All, is designed to provide greater detection capabilities in areas where people congregate. The concept allows for chemical agent detectors to ultimately be everywhere where there are cellular telephones. At the option of the cell phone owner, the GPS in the phone could provide sensor location information to emergency operation centers. While still years from implementation, researchers are working on the proof of concept before attempting full-scale miniaturization. This demonstration will provide a look at the state of the science to date.
WHO: DHS Science & Technology Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA); NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.; Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, Calif.; Rhevision Technology Inc., San Diego, Calif.; and Seacoast Science, San Diego, Calif.
WHAT: Media availability and multi-manufacturer demonstration of the Cell-All chemical sensor technology.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 2:00 p.m. PST
WHERE:
San Diego State University
Chemical Sciences Laboratory Building, Room 122
Corner of College Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive
San Diego, Calif. 92182
To attend the press availability and demonstration, credentialed media should contact John Verrico, DHS Science & Technology at 202-254-2385, john.verrico@dhs.gov, or Golda Akhgarnia, SDSU Marketing & Communications at 619-594-2585, goldaa@mail.sdsu.edu.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Airman Keeps Soldiers Connected in Afghanistan
By Army Pfc. Melissa StewartSpecial to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2009 - Shoot, move and communicate. That's a soldier's motto on the battlefield, but without a stable Internet connection, communication would not be possible. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy Emond does his part at Combat Outpost McClain, aiding soldiers by providing Internet access.
"I'm supporting the warfighters at ground zero," he said.
Nearly everything from intelligence reports, operations planning and tracking troops outside the wire depend on Internet connectivity.
"Before he came out here, the [secure Internet protocol router] was really slow, and with most of my job I use SIPR," said Army Spc. Daniel T. Bailey, an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force Spartan. "Since he's come, everything has been really fast."
Emond is one of nearly 80 airmen deployed to various locations in Afghanistan to operate the Virtual Secret Internet Protocol Router, Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router, Access Point, -- known as VSNAP -- a system developed early this year to provide Internet access for soldiers in remote locations.
"This is probably the most fun I'll ever have on deployment," Emond said. "It's given me a chance to see how the war is being fought from inside a command post."
"It's a great system, because the disc can be set up in about 15 minutes, and you can probably be passing traffic in a half an hour," Emond said. "It can pull power off a running Humvee; you don't even need a generator to operate the system."
(Army Pfc. Melissa Stewart serves in the Task Force Spartan public affairs office.)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Naval Research Lab Looks to Sea, Sun for Energy Solutions
By Bob Freeman
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 16, 2009 - The services could more effectively power unmanned vehicles, underwater monitoring sensors, ships and aircraft if Naval Research Laboratory scientists achieve their goals of harnessing solar and sea power to fuel the military for years to come, a top NRL scientist said. "A worldwide peak of fuel production is expected in five to 15 years, and increased demand will likely create large swings in price and availability," Barry Spargo, head of NRL's chemical dynamics and diagnostics branch, said in an Oct. 14 interview on Pentagon Web Radio's audio webcast "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military."
"The bottom line is that we need to develop alternative power and energy because conservation and efficiency alone will fall short of meeting future needs," he explained.
The quest for alternative fuel technologies is a top priority for the Navy, Spargo said, adding that energy research at NRL is diverse, allowing them to bring together a wide array of disciplines to address unique problems confronting alternate energy research.
"We're conducting research in a number of areas that look really promising; however it's unlikely that a single research area will solve the energy problems that we are facing," Spargo said. "NRL is currently investing in synthetic fuel production at sea, enhancing fuel energy density, exploration of methane hydrates in the ocean, energy harvesting from the sea, fuel cells and batteries, power electronics and superconductors, and inertial fusion.
"Each of these research areas has significant challenges," he added, "but certainly promising potential to help solve some of the Navy and [Defense Department's] future power and energy needs for force mobility."
One area of research that NRL is pursuing is the feasibility of sea-based production of hydrocarbon fuels. According to Spargo, the goal is to produce fuel in the same location where it is being consumed, specifically to support surface ships and aircraft operations from carriers at sea.
"This would give battle groups independence from fleet oilers which provide refueling needs," Spargo explained. It also would cushion naval forces from future fuel shortfalls, he added, providing energy independence to the Navy.
Fuel synthesis would be accomplished by a catalytic conversion of hydrogen produced directly from sea water by the electrolysis of water and carbon dioxide. "It's a complex process, but we believe that emerging scientific technology supports the development of synthetic logistic fuels," he noted.
"There are significant research and technological challenges, but the potential payoff is really high," he added.
Spargo noted that producing energy from sea water would be carbon dioxide neutral, thus not adding to the world's carbon footprint. "This technology would be a great candidate for dual use in the civilian sector if it actually comes to fruition," he said.
Spargo described another promising avenue of research that is investigating the potential for tapping the thermal energy stored in tropical waters.
"The energy stored in tropical waters is 300 times that of the world energy consumption. This makes the ocean the largest solar collector on Earth," he noted.
Ocean thermal energy conversion is a potentially efficient method to convert the energy stored in tropical oceans into electricity.
"You take the surface water, which is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and [use it to] heat a working liquid, something like propylene, which has a vapor point below 80 degrees," Spargo explained. "That converts the propylene liquid into a gas which drives a turbine that produces electricity. We then bring cold water up from about 3,000 feet below the surface, cool that vapor back into liquid and essentially create a cyclic process."
Taking a more direct approach to harnessing the energy of the sun, the lab is working on flexible photovoltaic panels about four times as efficient as current solar panels. According to Spargo, the panels can be easily folded and transported, or even integrated into materials like tents and uniform covers to provide a local power source in support of expeditionary forces.
"Additionally, NRL has prototyped a photovoltaic coating that can be sprayed on surfaces, like a rock, to create on-the-fly energy sources," he said. "You can imagine a small force spraying a rock and using it to generate electricity to power some device that they are using in the field."
A more unusual approach to energy production is the use of certain marine microorganisms that consume carbon dioxide in the ocean and convert it into energy that can be harvested. "As part of their biochemistry, these organisms produce electricity," he explained.
NRL has developed a number of devices that use microorganisms to power small sensors, like bottom-moored acoustic hydrophones for monitoring ship traffic, Spargo said.
"If we can produce enough energy with these devices, they could also power unmanned underwater vehicles, or at least provide a docking station where they could regenerate their batteries using electricity produced by these microbes," he said.
The lab has expended considerable research and development into developing hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source, Spargo said. "Fuel cells are used to create electricity, and they do this by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water," he explained.
Hydrogen fuel cells can deliver about twice the efficiency of a conventional combustion engine and when used to fuel unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, they can support heavier payloads than the earlier battery-powered models.
A recent test of the prototype Ion Tiger UAV, powered exclusively by a hydrogen fuel cell, sustained continuous flight for 23 hours and 17 minutes.
"Also, they can operate in stealth because they're not a combustion engine, which has a considerable heat signature, as well as a noise signature," he said.
Spargo also described efforts to harvest methane hydrates from the sea floor. "They have the potential of being double the amount of recoverable and nonrecoverable fossil fuels," he said.
Spargo admitted that there are many challenges to harvesting methane hydrates, including locating them and accessing them at such great depths, but it would be worth the effort.
"If we're able to actually extract these from the ocean floor, there's a potential to meet our national natural gas needs for about a hundred years," he said.
"Energy research is a key priority for the Navy and, for that matter, all of us," Spargo said. "I'm certain that there many exciting discoveries ahead that will help us achieve this goal of energy independence, as well as being good stewards of the environment as we operate and live in it," he said.
(Bob Freeman works in the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 16, 2009 - The services could more effectively power unmanned vehicles, underwater monitoring sensors, ships and aircraft if Naval Research Laboratory scientists achieve their goals of harnessing solar and sea power to fuel the military for years to come, a top NRL scientist said. "A worldwide peak of fuel production is expected in five to 15 years, and increased demand will likely create large swings in price and availability," Barry Spargo, head of NRL's chemical dynamics and diagnostics branch, said in an Oct. 14 interview on Pentagon Web Radio's audio webcast "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military."
"The bottom line is that we need to develop alternative power and energy because conservation and efficiency alone will fall short of meeting future needs," he explained.
The quest for alternative fuel technologies is a top priority for the Navy, Spargo said, adding that energy research at NRL is diverse, allowing them to bring together a wide array of disciplines to address unique problems confronting alternate energy research.
"We're conducting research in a number of areas that look really promising; however it's unlikely that a single research area will solve the energy problems that we are facing," Spargo said. "NRL is currently investing in synthetic fuel production at sea, enhancing fuel energy density, exploration of methane hydrates in the ocean, energy harvesting from the sea, fuel cells and batteries, power electronics and superconductors, and inertial fusion.
"Each of these research areas has significant challenges," he added, "but certainly promising potential to help solve some of the Navy and [Defense Department's] future power and energy needs for force mobility."
One area of research that NRL is pursuing is the feasibility of sea-based production of hydrocarbon fuels. According to Spargo, the goal is to produce fuel in the same location where it is being consumed, specifically to support surface ships and aircraft operations from carriers at sea.
"This would give battle groups independence from fleet oilers which provide refueling needs," Spargo explained. It also would cushion naval forces from future fuel shortfalls, he added, providing energy independence to the Navy.
Fuel synthesis would be accomplished by a catalytic conversion of hydrogen produced directly from sea water by the electrolysis of water and carbon dioxide. "It's a complex process, but we believe that emerging scientific technology supports the development of synthetic logistic fuels," he noted.
"There are significant research and technological challenges, but the potential payoff is really high," he added.
Spargo noted that producing energy from sea water would be carbon dioxide neutral, thus not adding to the world's carbon footprint. "This technology would be a great candidate for dual use in the civilian sector if it actually comes to fruition," he said.
Spargo described another promising avenue of research that is investigating the potential for tapping the thermal energy stored in tropical waters.
"The energy stored in tropical waters is 300 times that of the world energy consumption. This makes the ocean the largest solar collector on Earth," he noted.
Ocean thermal energy conversion is a potentially efficient method to convert the energy stored in tropical oceans into electricity.
"You take the surface water, which is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and [use it to] heat a working liquid, something like propylene, which has a vapor point below 80 degrees," Spargo explained. "That converts the propylene liquid into a gas which drives a turbine that produces electricity. We then bring cold water up from about 3,000 feet below the surface, cool that vapor back into liquid and essentially create a cyclic process."
Taking a more direct approach to harnessing the energy of the sun, the lab is working on flexible photovoltaic panels about four times as efficient as current solar panels. According to Spargo, the panels can be easily folded and transported, or even integrated into materials like tents and uniform covers to provide a local power source in support of expeditionary forces.
"Additionally, NRL has prototyped a photovoltaic coating that can be sprayed on surfaces, like a rock, to create on-the-fly energy sources," he said. "You can imagine a small force spraying a rock and using it to generate electricity to power some device that they are using in the field."
A more unusual approach to energy production is the use of certain marine microorganisms that consume carbon dioxide in the ocean and convert it into energy that can be harvested. "As part of their biochemistry, these organisms produce electricity," he explained.
NRL has developed a number of devices that use microorganisms to power small sensors, like bottom-moored acoustic hydrophones for monitoring ship traffic, Spargo said.
"If we can produce enough energy with these devices, they could also power unmanned underwater vehicles, or at least provide a docking station where they could regenerate their batteries using electricity produced by these microbes," he said.
The lab has expended considerable research and development into developing hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source, Spargo said. "Fuel cells are used to create electricity, and they do this by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water," he explained.
Hydrogen fuel cells can deliver about twice the efficiency of a conventional combustion engine and when used to fuel unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, they can support heavier payloads than the earlier battery-powered models.
A recent test of the prototype Ion Tiger UAV, powered exclusively by a hydrogen fuel cell, sustained continuous flight for 23 hours and 17 minutes.
"Also, they can operate in stealth because they're not a combustion engine, which has a considerable heat signature, as well as a noise signature," he said.
Spargo also described efforts to harvest methane hydrates from the sea floor. "They have the potential of being double the amount of recoverable and nonrecoverable fossil fuels," he said.
Spargo admitted that there are many challenges to harvesting methane hydrates, including locating them and accessing them at such great depths, but it would be worth the effort.
"If we're able to actually extract these from the ocean floor, there's a potential to meet our national natural gas needs for about a hundred years," he said.
"Energy research is a key priority for the Navy and, for that matter, all of us," Spargo said. "I'm certain that there many exciting discoveries ahead that will help us achieve this goal of energy independence, as well as being good stewards of the environment as we operate and live in it," he said.
(Bob Freeman works in the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy.)
DARPA Program Brings Sci-fi Capability to Warfighters
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 16, 2009 - Moviegoers were captivated as they watched a metallic assassin morph before their eyes in "Terminator 2." The villain turned to liquid before assuming new forms capable of squeezing through narrow openings and transforming its arms into bladed weapons and solid metal tools. Scientists at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency were wowed too. Now they're working to deliver that same kind of technology to support the good guys: warfighters on the battlefield.
Mitchell R. Zakin, program manager for DARPA's Programmable Matter division, said he's convinced the concept depicted for decades in blockbuster movies and comic books has real-life applications.
He's leading up the effort to develop "programmable matter," which he calls "the ultimate adaptable material." It will be capable of changing size and shape and taking on new properties for one use, he explained, then adapting to a whole different form for another use.
Zakin clarified that he's not out to change warfighters themselves, just the equipment they use, the clothing they wear and the loads they carry.
"Warfighters carry an incredible amount of stuff and they don't have any more room to carry more," he said. "Yet they are facing much more complicated battle spaces. They're going into caves and working in cities. They need more sophisticated tools to deal with these environments, yet they can't carry them."
The logistical challenge of getting equipment to remote areas such as Afghanistan exacerbates the problem, he said.
Enter the concept of programmable matter, a convergence of the fields of chemistry, information, mathematical theory and engineering.
Zakin envisions a day when warfighters will be able to reach into their kit, pull out a lump of programmable matter and form it into whatever they need.
Think of it as carrying a paint can with a bunch of particles inside, he advises anyone struggling to understand how it all would work. The particles could be different shapes and sizes, be made up of different materials and have different functions.
Depending on the requirement, the warfighter would instruct the particles to become whatever was needed at the moment -- a wrench, a hammer, a spare part. The particles would then organize themselves to form it. After using the device, the warfighter would return it to the bucket, where it once again would become a bunch of particles until instructed to become something else.
The same principle would work for uniforms, which could change their thermal insulating properties according to the climate: the deep freeze of the Afghan mountains, the blast furnace of summertime in the Middle East.
Fantastic as this all sounds, it's on its way to becoming a reality.
Five university-led teams are participating in DARPA's Programmable Matter program, and by the middle of next year, at least one is expected to emerge with a demonstration project. Halfway through the program's second and final phase, all five teams are making convincing progress that it's all possible.
The teams began the first phase of the program doing computer modeling, but got so excited by the project that they jumped headfirst into the second phase and began building actual prototypes, Zakin said.
By the end of the second phase, they're expected to demonstrate that they can take a single set of building blocks and create five different geometric shapes with the strength of engineering plastic.
"Everyone is making progress toward meeting these goals in a very meaningful way," Zakin said. "I'm confident that most, if not all the teams, will succeed."
The ultimate benefit to warfighters would be mind-boggling. "Imagine the possibilities: an entire toolbox originating from a single material form, or flexible clothing or equipment that can adapt to the immediate and changing needs of the warfighter, perhaps even 'smart' bandages embedded with diagnostic sensing capabilities," Zakin said. "The possibilities are endless."
In the simplest terms, programmable matter would bring warfighters "maximum capabilities with minimum carry weight," he said. "It would give them the ability to carry a little amount of stuff and do a lot with it. It creates a whole new paradigm in flexibility for the warfighter."
But the implications go far beyond warfighting, Zakin said. Aircraft wings built of programmable matter could change in flight to provide the best aerodynamic properties. Everything from computers to televisions to cars could be programmed to automatically update themselves with the newest features and configurations. Clothing could morph into the latest fashion styles.
In a nutshell, nothing would ever have to become obsolete.
"This is not fantasy, actually," Zakin said. "Aspects of this already are being done in this project."
Programmable matter also has the potential of turning the entire manufacturing process on its head. No longer would one design and one manufacturing process be needed for every single consumer product.
"Personal manufacturing" could take over. Consumers could go online, buy a blueprint for whatever they need, download the instructions, then feed them into a personal assembler that makes the product before their eyes, he said.
In some ways, Zakin said he's been preparing for the Programmable Matter program since he first saw as a young boy the concept depicted in the 1950s sci-fi movie, "The Blob."
"Most of my programs come out of the movies or comic books," he said. "It's what I do for a living."
Decades later, he said, it's gratifying to be at DARPA, where he's on the leading edge of helping bring fantasy to life.
"It allows us to do something very, very important, and something no one else has ever done before," he said. "It's very DARPA-like."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 16, 2009 - Moviegoers were captivated as they watched a metallic assassin morph before their eyes in "Terminator 2." The villain turned to liquid before assuming new forms capable of squeezing through narrow openings and transforming its arms into bladed weapons and solid metal tools. Scientists at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency were wowed too. Now they're working to deliver that same kind of technology to support the good guys: warfighters on the battlefield.
Mitchell R. Zakin, program manager for DARPA's Programmable Matter division, said he's convinced the concept depicted for decades in blockbuster movies and comic books has real-life applications.
He's leading up the effort to develop "programmable matter," which he calls "the ultimate adaptable material." It will be capable of changing size and shape and taking on new properties for one use, he explained, then adapting to a whole different form for another use.
Zakin clarified that he's not out to change warfighters themselves, just the equipment they use, the clothing they wear and the loads they carry.
"Warfighters carry an incredible amount of stuff and they don't have any more room to carry more," he said. "Yet they are facing much more complicated battle spaces. They're going into caves and working in cities. They need more sophisticated tools to deal with these environments, yet they can't carry them."
The logistical challenge of getting equipment to remote areas such as Afghanistan exacerbates the problem, he said.
Enter the concept of programmable matter, a convergence of the fields of chemistry, information, mathematical theory and engineering.
Zakin envisions a day when warfighters will be able to reach into their kit, pull out a lump of programmable matter and form it into whatever they need.
Think of it as carrying a paint can with a bunch of particles inside, he advises anyone struggling to understand how it all would work. The particles could be different shapes and sizes, be made up of different materials and have different functions.
Depending on the requirement, the warfighter would instruct the particles to become whatever was needed at the moment -- a wrench, a hammer, a spare part. The particles would then organize themselves to form it. After using the device, the warfighter would return it to the bucket, where it once again would become a bunch of particles until instructed to become something else.
The same principle would work for uniforms, which could change their thermal insulating properties according to the climate: the deep freeze of the Afghan mountains, the blast furnace of summertime in the Middle East.
Fantastic as this all sounds, it's on its way to becoming a reality.
Five university-led teams are participating in DARPA's Programmable Matter program, and by the middle of next year, at least one is expected to emerge with a demonstration project. Halfway through the program's second and final phase, all five teams are making convincing progress that it's all possible.
The teams began the first phase of the program doing computer modeling, but got so excited by the project that they jumped headfirst into the second phase and began building actual prototypes, Zakin said.
By the end of the second phase, they're expected to demonstrate that they can take a single set of building blocks and create five different geometric shapes with the strength of engineering plastic.
"Everyone is making progress toward meeting these goals in a very meaningful way," Zakin said. "I'm confident that most, if not all the teams, will succeed."
The ultimate benefit to warfighters would be mind-boggling. "Imagine the possibilities: an entire toolbox originating from a single material form, or flexible clothing or equipment that can adapt to the immediate and changing needs of the warfighter, perhaps even 'smart' bandages embedded with diagnostic sensing capabilities," Zakin said. "The possibilities are endless."
In the simplest terms, programmable matter would bring warfighters "maximum capabilities with minimum carry weight," he said. "It would give them the ability to carry a little amount of stuff and do a lot with it. It creates a whole new paradigm in flexibility for the warfighter."
But the implications go far beyond warfighting, Zakin said. Aircraft wings built of programmable matter could change in flight to provide the best aerodynamic properties. Everything from computers to televisions to cars could be programmed to automatically update themselves with the newest features and configurations. Clothing could morph into the latest fashion styles.
In a nutshell, nothing would ever have to become obsolete.
"This is not fantasy, actually," Zakin said. "Aspects of this already are being done in this project."
Programmable matter also has the potential of turning the entire manufacturing process on its head. No longer would one design and one manufacturing process be needed for every single consumer product.
"Personal manufacturing" could take over. Consumers could go online, buy a blueprint for whatever they need, download the instructions, then feed them into a personal assembler that makes the product before their eyes, he said.
In some ways, Zakin said he's been preparing for the Programmable Matter program since he first saw as a young boy the concept depicted in the 1950s sci-fi movie, "The Blob."
"Most of my programs come out of the movies or comic books," he said. "It's what I do for a living."
Decades later, he said, it's gratifying to be at DARPA, where he's on the leading edge of helping bring fantasy to life.
"It allows us to do something very, very important, and something no one else has ever done before," he said. "It's very DARPA-like."
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